Posted on Dec 17, 2014
SFC Michael Jackson, MBA
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Multicam joint
Airforce multicam
Multicam army
the closest I seen to a standard uniform for the Armed Forces was the multicam uniform when I was in Kandahar, and Air Force all wearing the uniform at one point with few deviations. Would do feel about this?
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SGT Former Rn
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I feel it IS about time for a standard one for all 5 branches, but since there are so many 1-4 star Generals across ALL branches and they are all buckin for the 'next' star, this will never happen.
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Charlie Matthias
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This is probably the most asinine thing I have ever read or heard of coming from someone in the military!!!! All countries issue their military branches different uniforms for many reasons; the least of which is to distinguish them from each other!!!! Most military uniforms have historical context that represent the continuity of the uniform and the branch itself!!!

As for the camouflage; maybe it could be justified if it meets the individual mission requirements of each branch of service, but remember that they were changed in the first place because each branch needed and wanted different patterns and styles for their personnel!!!!

The old adage "if it is not broken do not fix it" comes to mind!!!!

Stop trying to change the military!!!!

It is fine the way it is!!!!
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
8 y
For those with memories, it wasn't broken before the services tried to fix it.
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
8 y
Also interesting that at Civilian would be telling military people to stop trying to fix the military, and the military is fine the way it is. That's based on your military experience? Where to you think the term SNAFU came from?
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MCPO Roger Collins
MCPO Roger Collins
8 y
CDR Michael Goldschmidt - That has occurred to me on more frequent occasions that ever based on the new civilian adds to RP.
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SSgt Christopher Gilbert
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I like the idea
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CSM Chris McKeown
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I have to say hell NO! Different uniforms between the different branches is good for morale on so many levels. Also different uniforms helps during large campaigns like Desert Storm so you know which branch of service you are seeing and dealing with. Many a time during Desert Shield/Storm I would come across troops in remote areas and would call in to report what I was seeing to make sure they were what ever branch of the US Forces and that they were authorized to be in that area.

Also if every branch has the same uniform it is easier for enemy forces to impersonate and gain a major advantage on us both abroad and here in the US.
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PO3 Chris Scheide
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Seagoing services, Navy and Coast Guard, shouldn't have to wear camo. As a Machinery Technician I like our working blues or dungarees w/ a chambray shirt. I like what others have said about keeping the service specific dress uniforms. Lets each service keeps its identity.
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SSgt Jamie Ritter LeBlanc
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Uh no there have been enough uniform changes. I honestly didn't see the need for the change before in roughly 2007. Me personally it is a waste of time and money for the changes. Only time it should change is for the mission. JMHO
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SGT John Fritz
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Doesn't the uniform requirement have to fit the needs on the specific mission? More so the environment that they will be going to to defend us.
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COL John Hudson
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Chief, and ALLCON: I was at the last combined LOGEX held at Fort Picket back in the day. A Joint Field Ex - we had Canadian military types with us as well. They shared with us the Canadian military tried that very idea, and it was the biggest "Recruiting" disaster ever in the history of the Canadian armed forces. Young people wanting to become engaged in a specific aspect of any of the armed forces sought to be recognized by the roll-specific uniforms for that area. Turning off that inducement, exchanging it for a 'one-size-fits-all' vanilla outfit, choked off their enlistment numbers in a heartbeat. Senior military leaders couldn't get that turned off quick enough. U.S. common uniform? Didn't work for the Canadians and I REALLY don't believe it would work for us!
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SFC Victor Pontbriand
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Stupid idea
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PO1 N4 Lpo
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No way. Love my NWUs.
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Capt Staff Officer
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I support a standard combat uniform for all the branches. The biggest argument about having distinct uniforms is that it is "tradition". These people forget that before the whole digital camouflage fad, all the branches wore BDUs. Since then the branches have spent tons of money on their service distinct uniforms that don't provide a distinct tactical advantage. With a standard uniform, that money can be spent on more important things. A standard uniform also makes the logistics a lot easier, saving even more money. We work for the people and shouldn't be frivolously spending their money on combat uniforms that don't effectively do their job. If I am in a foxhole getting shot at, I don't care if the uniform I'm wearing shows my service's distinct look. All I care about is if it conceals me so that I'm not a bigger target for the enemy.

With that being said about the combat uniform, I think there should still be service distinct dress uniforms. This is where the argument for tradition is actually valid. If I am in my dress uniform it is a formal occasion and I actually care about pride in my service, as opposed to when I'm getting shot at. Logistically it would still cost more to have service distinct dress uniform but the services are changing their dress uniform as often. This means they aren't spending as much money on development of new uniforms. I think if they tried to get rid of service distinct uniforms for both combat and dress uniforms there would be too much backlash. I think that having a unified combat uniform will solve many of the problems they are trying to fix.
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SGT Infantryman
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I don't know about this. Considering our different rank structures, I think having different uniforms is a good way to tell what branch you're looking at from a distance, so when you see a bit bird on someone's hat you know what to say to them.
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MSgt John Taylor
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We all wore chocolate chips in DESERT STORM. I hate to sound like a conspiroist, but how long after we all look the same before someone asks the question "why different services?"

I have a great deal of respect for our sister services, but I have more pride in my own, therefore I prefer the separate look.
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COL John Hudson
COL John Hudson
>1 y
Chief, on that same line of reasoning...the Congress of the United States, in a Branch hearing, asked the US Air Force General level leadership why the Army used Warrant Officer pilots (cheap) yet the Air Force demanded Commissioned Officers (expensive) to fly their aircraft. The answer was ludicrous...a rambling discourse about how much more talent the pilot had, AF aircraft were much more demanding to fly, and a litany of similar nonsense attempting to convince the Panel how much better AF pilots had to be. The instruments in my helicopter troop carriers and gun ships were exactly the same as those in any AF aircraft flying similar roles. In 1970, the Army sent a number of AH1G Cobra helicopter pilots (Warrant Officer) to Edwards Air Force Base in California to conduct combat trials against AF fast movers. Both types of aircraft were equipped with the same acquisition radars and told to go out and 'shoot' each other down. Results? The Army helicopters hit each and every fast mover and the jets never scored one kill throughout the exercise. In fact, the after-action reports stated the jet jocks never even saw one helicopter during the entire exercise! Go back and read about the "Flying Sergeants" in WWII.
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MSgt Billy McDonough
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Only if it saves money, in textiles these days I am not sure it would.
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PO1 Joe StMartin
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The concept is great, however the problem that occurs is that our working uniforms need to be closely matched to our working environments. I can not imagine any one style, or fabric that would be appropriate to working in a ships engineering pit, on a flight line, a base, a battlefield, And whichever other locations our forces find themselves working in on a day to day basis. The only time that one standard uniform would work would be if we were all working in the same environment.

The issue that arises then becomes the problem of each individual having to keep several different types of uniforms that wouldn't use for years at a time.
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MAJ Program Technician
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I like that each branch has its own identity, however I'm not opposed to wearing the same uniform during deployment, as we should all be wearing the most functional concealment in a combat zone. I also think it is odd now that the Army is getting a new pattern and it is the only non-digital of all the branches. OCP is hands down better than UCP though.
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COL Jeff Williams
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Applying this thought to sports, would it be ok if every team wore the same uniform?
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PO2 Avionics Technician
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100%
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SFC Deputy Station Commander
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Yes for the pattern... A "H" no for the design.
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LCpl William Fogle
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No our uniform is our calling card. Hello, USMC here! Whats the problem? Yes we can!
Change what you want, leave ours alone.
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